Friends and fellow firefighters wheel Mike Predmore’s casket to the waiting 1928 Hale pumper, destined to carry the body to the cemetery on Friday.
Photo by Chris Barber

LONDON GROVE — A firefighter who loved his family, community and good food was laid to rest Friday, carried to the cemetery in the back of the truck he helped restore.

Mike Predmore, a 24-year veteran and first assistant engineer of the West Grove Fire Company, died last Thursday after a short illness.

Following his funeral on Friday — per his wishes — his friends and colleagues loaded his casket onto the back of “Elsie,” the company’s 1928 Hale Pumper and drove it to the New London Cemetery for burial.

Predmore, 55, is remembered for his leadership in the Boy Scouts, as a Santa Claus celebrant, a fire safety educator and a tinkerer on old vehicles, but most of all for his leadership in the restoration of “Elsie,” the fire truck the company owned, sold and then recovered in 2005. In his capacity as first assistant engineer, he was responsible for the care and maintenance of the trucks.

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The story is told by fellow fire company member Bill Wohl that when several members of the restoration committee went to Tioga County to pick up the old pumper in disrepair, Predmore worked on it for about 20 minutes and got it running for its trip back to West Grove.

Predmore said in an interview that when the restoration of the old truck was completed several years ago, the operation had involved taking apart every single screw, nut and part of the vehicle, refinishing or cleaning them and putting them back together.

He was proud of the vehicle that is now housed in the London Britain substation on Route 896. He was eager to tell people about it, and he drove it frequently in parades and special occasions.

Recently, he designed special hardware so that the caskets of fallen firefighters could be attached and carried to their burial destinations.

Wohl, who gave the eulogy at Assumption BVM Church, said, “This was his baby. He said, ‘When I die, I want to take my last ride in Elsie.’ He knew (when he designed the hardware) he was planning his own funeral.”

Standing before scores of friends and an audience of more than 50 uniformed firefighters from West Grove and beyond at the church, Wohl portrayed Predmore as a hero, a man who was committed to generosity, to serving others and to helping the weak.

He talked about Predmore’s Santa Claus project — driving a fire truck to local housing developments during the Christmas season and listening to requests for gifts from young children. Wohl said that last Christmas season they got a call for two teenagers who were trapped after a serious auto accident. Predmore rushed over immediately — in his Santa outfit — and helped on scene to rescue the pair.

Wohl concluded that Predmore was strong and concerned about his family, even in his last hours.

“He knew his time to ride Elsie was close. I hope we can all be so strong when our time to ride Else comes,” Wohl said.

Predmore in his youth was an Eagle Scout and also achieved the honor of Order of the Arrow. In his adulthood he was also a leader of Boy Scouts, working with Troop 30.

He also developed the school safety program that involves visiting students and teaching them about dealing with fires and avoiding consuming alcohol when driving.

After the service, the casket was lifted upon and secured to the back of the antique pumper as an army of uniformed firefighters saluted.

The procession of friends, family and fire trucks then proceeded to New London Cemetery, where Predmore was buried with full military honors.

About the Author

Chris Barber is the zone editor of the Avon Grove Sun. She is a lifelong resident of Kennett Square and a graduate of Unionville High School and Carleton College majoring in religion and minoring in astronomy. She is the founder of the Kennett Area YMCA. Reach the author at cbarber@21st-centurymedia.com
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